Zika virus inactivation mediated by peptide-decorated silica nanoparticles

Abstract

The proposal here described aims to synthesize fluorescent silica particles and coat them simultaneously with two distinct peptides using materials directing sequences to dock the functional biomolecules to the NP surface. The first is a RERERE-ending zwitterionic peptide, which will confer colloidal stability while avoiding protein corona formation around the particles. The second one is the MAVLGDTAWDFGSVGGALNSLGKGIHQIFGAAF targeting peptide which will likely induce nanoparticle/ZIKV interaction and, consequently, inactivate the viral ability to infect healthy cells. The biological activity of the synthesized particles will be tested against native Zika virus. (AU)